Will your loved one be the next fatality due to legislation that allows large scale developments to be fast-track approved without any regard for road capacity?   Imagine 10,000 new homes where traffic already far exceeds what the roads can handle. That's legal now in Florida. And it's a prescription for gridlock, hours stuck in traffic, collisions, injuries and deaths. Gridlock also slows response time for emergency workers.  Tell Byron Donalds to put lives first and not approve any growth-related bill that takes away home rule, if he's elected governor.  

What's the justification for rapidly  increasing home inventory at a time when home supply outpaces demand in Florida?  Many counties have tens of thousands of approved homes, yet to be built.  But developers demand more  - and they're donating millions to legislators for still more bills to circumvent local rule.   The free state of Florida must remain free from undue influence by special interests.  

 Florida is already one of the most dangerous states in the country for drivers,  passengers and pedestrians. According to the  NIH (National Institutes for Health), there is an increase in accidents with increasing levels of congestion/traffic volume.  Traffic must be taken into account for every proposed development, with no exceptions. Lives depend on it.  

In a short three-month time period, the Agricultural Enclave Act (SB 686) brought 13 applications for development to one county. (St. Johns)   This one bill could add over 40,000 fast-tracked homes to a county that already has 35,000 homes approved but not yet built. No actual need has been shown for fast-tracking homes without local oversight.  These laws are simply a favor to developers who invest millions in campaign contributions to legislators. One  development was rejected five years ago due to significant lack of infrastructure, and then it was recently submitted for approval as two “Agricultural enclaves,”  totaling 1160 acres with a proposed density of an astounding 13 homes per acre — ON DEFICIENT ROADS.  The lone county commissioner to approve it received $10,000 in campaign donations from the developer.  That's not planning. That's quid pro quo.   Martin County is facing an ag enclave development that they soundly rejected 5-0 less than a year ago.  How do these oppressive bills represent a "free state of Florida?"

One of the unintended results of the Live Local Act (which allows large developments in congested areas) is that developers are using it as a threat to get development approved that would otherwise be rejected for insufficient road capacity. This occurred in St. Johns County when 297 townhomes were proposed on a heavily congested corridor that was already operating over 170% capacity. When local commissioners resisted adding to the traffic, the developer’s attorney overtly threatened them that her client would bring an even higher density “Live Local” project to that land if the zoning was not changed to accommodate the 297 homes. Fearing even worse traffic from a large Live Local project,  the BOCC approved a zoning change to Planned Unit Development, setting a precedent for more such threats, while endangering residents. 

Another law is expected to return this legislative session which could fast-track development of 15,000 acres at a time - again without regard to road capacity - known as the “Blue Ribbon bill."  (And that's just one of many reasons that residents overwhelmingly despise this bill.)

Congressman Donalds, the developers may be donating millions to your campaign. But you don’t need their millions to win our votes.  Put traffic safety, quality of life, and the will of the people ahead of developer demands, and you will have our votes.  

*Fatality rate per 100 Million Vehicle Miles Traveled, 2025,  p. 5:   National Highway Traffic Safety Administration